Fireproof building and blocks therefor.



'fmug .iuLsov L. O. SPROUT. PIRBPROGP BUILDING AND BLOCKS THEREFOR.

LPPLIOATIOI FILED SEPT. 4, 1008.

2 SHEETS-SHEET' 1.

I.. 0. SPROUT.

PATBNTED JULY'z. 19o?.

FIREPRGOP BUILDING AND BLOCKS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4.1906.

2 BHEETB-BHBET 2.

anotan,

LOUIS O. SPROUT, OF FOSl'lORlA, OHIO.

FIREPROOF BUILDING AND BLOCKS TEEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application iled September 4, 1906. Serial No.333,114.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known that I, LOUIS O. SPRoUT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Fostoria, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented -certain new and usefull Improvements` in Fireproof Buildings and Blocks Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain neT and useful improvements in fire-proof buildings and walls and blocks for the same, of that class composed of cement or the like and having provision for a continuous air passage throughout the wall.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide an improved block of this nature provided with hand holds whereby the blocks can be easily handled and having provision for a continuous circulation of the air, the window and door caps and sills being provided with means for the circulation of air, and the blocks presenting a smooth and plain and solid surface for the mortar. My corner block is so constructed that it does not obstruct the circulation. My blocks can be cut into any desired length and not interfere with the circulation. In constructing the blocks there is no core to be pulled and I can if desired employ spalls to add strength and lessen the amount of cement necessary, whereby I can make two blocks with the amount of cement necessary to construct one, my blocks and molds all being solid and n0 core being employed the manufacture of the block is greatly facilitated, and when completed it can be broken straight at any desired point, and in laying the mason cannot cut off the provision for continuous circulation by careless laying of the blocks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and/in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of the Wall of a building constructed of blocks made in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view looking at one corner, with the wall in vertical section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a window or door cap or sill. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the corner blocks. Fig. 6 is a similar view of another corner block. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the blocks showing wooden blocks molded therein.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring new to the details of the drawings l designates one of the blocks, what l. call a common block, that is, a block such as is employed except at the corner or as a cap or sill to a door or window. lt may be of any desired size and is formed along one of its longer sides with a channel 2 by preference rounded, although not necessarily so, and this channel 2 communicates at the ends with the end channels 3 and 4, and these end channels have the projections 5 therein near the top which serve as hand holds by which the block may bcreadily handled. They however do not interfere with a continuity of the air passages to such an extent as to retard the circulation of the air, leaving it practically a continuous passage around all the openings in the structure.

-6 is a corner block. It is formed along its under side with a channel 7 which communicates at one end with. the channel 8 at the end of the block, and in this channel 8 is the projection 9 forming a hand hold. The channel 7 at its other end, instead of extending to the end of the block extends at right angles to its length and extends horizontally as shown at 10 being not only at right angles to the length of the block but also at right angles to the end channel 8.

1l is a corner block similar to that seen in Fig. 5 except that the longitudinal channel 12 has its right angled channel 13 extending from the opposite end and in the opposite direction so as to adapt it for use on the opposite side of the corner of the wall', this being necessary in order not to interfere with the circulation entirely around the wall.

The outer faces of the blocks 1, as well as the outer face and exposed end of the corner blocks may be given any desired configuration, those herein shown being beveled around the four sides as seen at 14 to imitate stone.

15 is a block designed for use as a cap or sill to a door or window. It is formed with a longitudinal channel 16 upon its under face which communicates at its ends with the vertical end channels 17 and 18 in which are the projections 19 and 2O forming hand holes for the same purpose as those of the blocks above described. This cap or sill block has its upper face beveled as seen at 21 for the purpose of facilitating drainage, as well as an air space over the cap block. The side projections 22 are adapted to receive the side portions of the door or window frame as seen in Fig. 1.

Figs. l and 2 show the manner in which the blocks are laid in the wall and illustrate how the air passages 23 are continuous and unobstructed, even around the doors and windows. Fig. 2 shows how the corner blocks are laid and clearly illustrates the continuity of the air passages around the corners of the wall. There is a continuous circulation not only around the building between the blocks of each course but also vertically from the horizontal channels to each other as will be readily understood best from Fig. 2.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. I may, in some instances, form the blocks with inlaid wooden blocks 24 as seen in Fie. 7, which are molded into the block, and serve for nailing the inside wood work ot' the building, as will be readily understood. These wooden blocks 24 may or may not be dove-tailed as shown.

What is claimed as new is;-

1. A building,r block formed upon one side and adjacent ends with communicating channels with projections in the end channels terminating within said channels, the upper face of the block being beveled, and shoulders at the ends ot the bevel intermediate said ends of the bevel and the end channels, to receive the side portions of a door or window frame.

2. A wall formed of cement blocks laid in courses to break joints. said blocks having channels upon their under faces und ends and said channels disposed to form continuous communicating air passages between the blocks of each course and also vertically from the horizontal channel to each other around the corners and throughout the wall. a sill block having its upper face beveled with shoulders at the ends of the bevel, and a frame supported on said shoulders with an air space around the same.

Signed by ine at Fostoria. Hancock county, Ohio, this 17th day of August 1906.

LOUIb` O. SPROUT.

Witnesses M. A. THOMAS, F. R. CUYKINDALL. 

